Drying apparatus for backwashing machines used in the treatment of wool or like fibrous substances



Sept, 28,1926. 601,332

J H. WHITEHEAD ET AL DRYING APPARATUS FOR BACK WASHING MACHINEQ USED INTHE TREATMENT OF WOOL OR LIKE FIBROUS SUBSTANCES Filed April 17, 1924 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 28 1926. 1,601,332

J. H. WHiTEHEAD ET AL DRYING APPARATUS FOR BACK WASHING MACHINES USED INTHE TREATMENT OF WOOL OR LIKE FIBROUS SUBSTANCES Filed April 1'7. 1924 3Sheets-Sheet 2 vSept. 28

H. WHITEHEAD ET AL DRYING APPARATUS FOR BACK WASHING MACHINES USED INTHE TREATMENT OF WOOL OR LIKE FIBROUS SUBSTANCES Filed April 17. 1924 3Sheets-Sheet .5

Patented Sept. 28, 1926.

UNITED STATES A 1,661,332 PATENT oFFIg JOHN HENRY NI-II'IEl-IEAD ANDWILLIAM EDWARD LAYLAND, OF LEEDS, ENGLAND.

DRYING APPARATUS FOR BACKWASHING MACHINES USED IN THE TREATMENT OF WOOLOR LIKE FIBROUS SUBSTANCES.

Application filed April 17, 1924, Serial No. 707,108, and in GreatBritain December 18, 1923.

It relates to that part of the type or class of machines known as backwashing machines for treating wool or like fibrous substances in which aseries of drums or cylinders having perforated peripheries have hot aircirculated through them to dry or act upon the wool or like fibroussubstances which take in the form of a sliver around said perforatedcylinders on leaving the washing part of the apparatus, and our presentinvention consists in an improved construction and arrangement of saidcylinders and parts in connection therewith and in the arrangement ofthe air propelling or circulating apparatus made use of whereby we canhave the heated air circulated so as to be more evenly distributedthroughout the whole seriesof cylinders and over a larger area of thesurfaces thereof than has heretofore been possible,'

by which means the fibrous substances are more evenly acted upon whilethe quantity or output of substances treated is greatly increased. I

In order that our said invention may be readily understood we havehereunto appended sheets of drawings thereof, to which by letters andfigures, reference is made in the following description.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section on the line l1 of Fig. 3 ofthe drying section of the machine to which our invention relates andshows same with the side Walls removed so that the arrangement ofcylinders and fans or propellers within may be cleariy seen while thepassages from the air supplying apparatus are also more clearlyillustrated.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the apparatus shown by Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of certain of the parts shown by Fig. l (asseen looking from right to left of said figure) with the walls removedso that the parts within may be more clearly illustrated.

Fig. l is a sectional elevation showing one of the cylinders constructedin accordance with our invention as is hereinafter described.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of two cylinders (drawn to a reduced scale ascompared with Fig. &) and shows how same are geared together.

Fig. 6 is a view, similarto Fig. 1, partly in section on the line 6-6 ofFig. 3.

illustrative In Figs. 1 and 2 A indicates a portion of the well knownwashing part of the apparatus styled a back washer and B on the otherside of the drying apparatus indicates a gill box or like machine towhich the sliver of fibrous substances is delivered after passingthrough our improved apparatus.

In carrying our inventio-n into effect we make use of the well knowncylinders 2, 2, 2 which have their peripheral walls perforated to allowair to pass through them. These cylinders are mounted within an enclosedcylinder chamber 3 which has air passages w formed through its innerwall 3 leading to the interior of the cylinders.

-The upper horizontal partition 3 is perforated to allow air circulationand forms the bottom of an intermediate chamber above the cylinderchamber while the slanting cover 8 forms the top of said intermediatechamber. I

Adjoining the cylinder chamber 3 is a heating chamber 5 within whichheating apparatus, consisting of the steam (or hot air) heated pipes 14is arranged as is hereinafter described, so that air may be circulatedand caused to travel from the heating chamber 5 through the passages wto the interiors of the cylinders 2, 2 2

Situated above the heating chamber 5 is a fan chamber 7 within which aremounted the air propellers or fans 6," 6 and 6 The fans 6 and 6 arearranged to operate within their respective shields 16 and 16 which areformed of the shape shown by Fig. 1 so that the spaces surrounding theirperipheries gradually increase radially therefrom so as to finally endin comparatively large and free openings at and m which lead into theheating chamber 5. The shield 16 within which the fan 6 operates, isarranged to have its outlet lead to an exhaust outlet passage 10 as wellas to have another outlet at m into the chamber 5.

Through the upper end of the wall 3 are formed passages 00 (one oppositeeach fan 6, 6 6 which lead into the intermediate chamber above thepartition 3'.

In the arrangement shown by the drawingsv we have made use of fourtiersof these three series of cylinders 2, 2 and 2 but it is obvious that thenumber of tiers and the number of series may be varied as well as maythe number of fans 6, 6 and 6 as occa-' sion requires.

I call the cylinder of each series or tier shown at the left in Figure1, the first cylinder, the next the second cylinder,

the next the third cylinder, and the 5 next (at the rlght of the series)the fourth c3. linder. The cylinders are rtated simultaneously in thedirections indicated by the arrows in Figure 1, by the ice of wheelsnext described. Each er has a gear wheel a fixed to one of ends. Thefirst cylinder 2 derives its ion from a driving gear wheel 6, meshingwith the gear wheel a of this cylinder, and connected by a gear wheel Z)with a gear wheel 6 on the shaft of the delivery roller of thewashing-machine A. The gear wheels of the cylinders 2 mesh with those ofthe cylinders 2 The gear wheels of the cylinders 2 connected byintermediate gear wheels 6*. The gear wheels of the first cylinders 2and. 2 are connected by an mtermediate gear 7). he gear wheels of thefirst and second cylindersQ are connected by an intermediate gear wheel6 The gear wheels of the third and fourth cylinders 2 are connected byan intermediate gear wheel 6. The gear wheel of the fourth cylinder 2 isconnected with the gear wheel of the fourth cylinder 2* by anintermediate gear wheel In our arrangement we prefer the cylinders 2, 2,2 in each series to be in alignment with each other vertically, and notto occupy staggered or alternate positions as has heremachine.

The air propellers or fans 6 6 derive their motion through the medium ofa driving belt 17 which is actuated by any prime motor, this belt 17transmits motion to a pulley 1.8. fixed upon the shaft of the fan 6, Onthe same shaft is fixed another pulley 19 so that by a belt 20 motion istransmitted thereby to a pulley 21 fixed upon the shaft of the fan 6Upon the shaft of the same fan 6 is fixed another pulley 22 which by abelt 23 transmits motion to a pulley 24: fixed upon the shaft of the fan6.

The sliver of wool or like fibrous substances 0 as it leaves the washingapparatus A passes over the guide roller cl and is conducted therefromto the interior of the chamber 3. lit passes over the series of guiderollers l which are mounted. adjoining the several series of cylinders2, 2 and 2 in the positions shown by Fig. 1, so that said sliver firstgees beneath the first cylinder 2 at the left of Fig.1. It passesbeneath said cylinder Qcomes in contact near the lower surface of thecylinder 2 immediately above the cylinder '2 at the left of Fig. 1forward over the guide roller 4 and over the top of the cylinder 2? alsoat the left of. v Fig. l. Passing over this cylinder 2 it is then guidedby another roller aback over a tofore been the arrangement in this typeof.

portion of the middle cylinder 2 in contact with which it was previouslyguidec in its ascent. Passing beneath another guide roller l and overthe top of a second guide roller adjoining, it then passes beneath thesecond of the cylinders 2 practically encircling the whole of thecylinder 2 until it ris s into contact with t-he second cylinder 2immediately above. From this it is conducted upwards to the cylinder 2immediately above it and passes over the top of this cylinder back downto the cylinder 2 beneath from which it is guided forward to the otherse ries, ofcylinders by the respective guide roll ere until it finallyemerges at 7 from the chamber 3 to be conducted to the machine B or toany other apparatus as may be required.

On the apparatus being put into action the air circulated and heatedwithin the chamber 5travels'into the cylinders 2 2 and 2 indicated byarrows Sin Figs. 2, 3 and 4:. This heated air then passes through theperipheral walls of said cylinders through the sliver of fibrousmaterial encircling said walls and enters the chamber 3. from which itis partly withdrawn and circulated back again through the openings atthe upper end of. the walls 3 down back to the chamber 5 this saidcirculation continues as long as may be found desirable. When the air becomes suliiciently saturated with water by takingup the moisture fromthe fibrous substances treated, a damper 9 leading to the exhaust outlet10,.is opened and the fan or propeller 6* then, in addition topropelling any air through the opening a? into the chamber 5, will causesaidair which is now saturated, to escape vertically. by the exhaust.10, as it withdraws said, air from the chamber 7, andthe regulating thedamper sis carried out as the attendant may desire.

(hen the damper 9., is open so that the heated saturated air begins toleave the onclosures, fresh air enters the opening into the chamber 3through the open space where the sliver leaves said chamber 3. It willbe observed that the progress of the sliver through the chamber 3subjects said sliver firstly to the treatment of the air which is aboutto be exhausted or discharged from the apparatus so that both the sliverand. the escaping air at these parts contain more moisturev than theywill as the sliver progresses through the chamber 8 tomeet theotherfresher air travelling in the opposite d'irection from the otherside of the machine as propelled by the fans 6 and 6.

By constructing and arranging the means orapparatus as hereinbeforedescribed we have foundtl at whilepreventing the escape of air beforesuch air has taken up its proper quantity of moisture we are enabled tocarry out the process of drying under such conditions as toeconomize'steam air or other heat transmitting medium and yet securegreater advantages and better results than has been possible by theemployment of any previous arrangement of devices.

In order further to distribute the heated air which enters the cylinders2, 2 2 more evenly throughout the Whole peripheral surfaces of saidcylinders, we form the interior of said cylinders of the conical shapeshown by Fig. 4 in which the conical surfaces 11 and 11 will cause theair to travel towards the periphery from where it enters at w to fillthe interior of the cylinders and escape as described. 7

,As further means for preventing the rush of heated air propelled intothe cylinders 2, 2 2 to the extreme ends of the cavities at 12 we makeuse of a deflector 12 which causes the heated air to be'more evenlydistributed throughout the whole width or area of the internal surfacesof said cylinders and although we have shown such deflectors 12 toextend from the conical shield 11 we are aware other deflectors may bemade use of to distribute the heated air in the manner described.

The deflector 12 is in the form of a curved annular flange whichradiates from the periphery of the shield 11 within the cylinder.

The circulation of steam (or hot air) within the heating chamber 5 iscarried out through vertical tubes 14 which have sheet metal dividingplates or diaphragms '15 as we find this simple formation of radiatingapparatus to act sufficiently well by reason that the diaphragms 15 actin such manner as to enable steam to circulate through all the tubes 14as supplied from the base cavity 16 and under such conditions thatwithout elaborate fittings and many joints (which have to be kept inrepair) the apparatus answers the purpose for which it is used, althoughwe may make use of other forms of radiating or heating apparatus as wemay find advantageous.

By the employment of our improved apparatus we have found that we areenabled to increase the speed at which the slivers of fibrous substancesmay be carried through the machine, and yet have same evenly acted uponby the heated air so that the moisture left therein is evenlydistributed throughout the whole length and breadth of the sliver whendischarged from the apparatus while the quantity of said fibroussubstances thus treated is greatly increased as compared with thequantity it has been possible to treat in the same given time byapparatus.

heretofore employed.

Such being the nature and object of our said invention, what we claim is2- 1. In drying apparatus for back washing machines, an enclosedcylinder chamber,

a plurahty of series of cylinders, having perforated peripheries,mounted to rotate machines, an enclosed cylinder chamber, a'

plurality of series of cylinders, having perforated peripheries, mountedto rotate within said chamber, means for. transmitting motion to saidcylinders, an enclosed heating chamber adjacent the cylinder chamber, awall between the cylinder chamber, and the heating chamber havingopenings to afford free access for air to the interiors of thecylinders, heating apparatus mounted within said heating chamber, anenclosed fan chamber above the heating chamber, fans or air propellersmounted to rotate within said fan chamber, means for transmitting motionto said fans, shields partly encircling said fans, an enclosedintermediate chamber adjacent the fan chamber and above the cylinderchamber, and an outlet or exhaust passage leading from the fan chambersubstantially as set forth.

3. In drying apparatus for back washing machines, an enclosed cylinderchamber, a plurality of series of cylinders, having perforatedperipheries mounted to rotate within said chamber, means fortransmitting motion to said cylinders, an enclosed heating chamberadjacent the cylinder chamber, a wall between the cylinder chamber andthe heating chamber having openings to afford free access for air to theinteriors of the cylinders, heating apparatus mounted within saidheating chamber, an enclosed fan chamber above the heating chamber, fansor air propellers mounted to rotate Within said fan chamber, means fortransmitting motion to said fans, shields partly encircling said fans,and communicating with the interior of the heating chamber, an enclosedintermediate chamber adjacent the fan chamber and above the cylinderchamber and an exhaust outlet leading from the fan chamber substantiallyas set forth.

' 4. In drying apparatus for back washing machines, an enclosed cylinderchamber, a plurality of series of cylinders, having perforatedperipheries mounted to rotate within said chamber, means fortransmitting motion to said cylinders, an enclosed heating chamberadjacent the cylinder chamber, a wall between the cylinder chamber andthe chamber itbove the heatingclla nr-ldbe 1f,'time or air EIQPQHGI'S mopnt edto rotate'within free; access for afi tie the intejrier sjof the;

cylinders, heating appamtus ID OL i Ilt QdJWitYF 1n sa1d heatlngehambep, an encl'psed tap said fan 'chambei means 01 tra ns mi'ttingmgtion to sa i d fans, shielclg partly e cir cli g Said a n c mment n the 1 erion if his eati inbr, 1 9361 rm di t am e ifljac nt" he en h m ernd b' v'e t e y nd r lm f; p rfpmted pa t Qn bet ee aid q mii b lt andthe bylinde'r intermediate 'Chamb'e r'eb e; neath the same, and anexhaust outlet leadne z m m c ambe ubt fit elly.

set" forth.

5. In drying appgl' zitus for back \vas1 1 i g ingchember a ja e tcy ndr m a wal'l"bejtv'vejen the ejl'inder chamber matte heating cheinberhaving bpen'iriige'to aiifiorcl' free access for air to thejintepidr ofthe 05 1- indeps, heating appgfetus mounted Within S tlid' heatingChitlnbfi, ah e closed fa n. diamber a bqye thel heating chembrffaliisor zfir ppopellers mounted to' rotate Withih said far; Chamber; means"fel transmitting motion t( 's a i1fz 1is", shields pglrtly encirclingSaid fans, and; eoimminicating with the interior Qt the 'heqtihgc'ha'mbelged enclosed inter.- mediate ehzimhep idjac entfthea fanfchamber and" 'abovethe Cylinder chamber, a p'eijfdrated pa rtitiebetween said chambet and the cylinder intermediate himbeii' beneath thesame, an exhaustpzi's s age l eddingffrplhl the fai chamber," andpzisseges leading" thiioughth'e 'side' Wall f the 'i ittel medi at e"chamber t6 thefetnsbp s tahtia'lly as Set; fdi'th.

JOHN HENRY W HIT-EHEAD.

WILLIAM EDWARD ILAYL'A'ND:

